title: The use of shock waves in peripheral nerve regeneration: new perspectives?
abstract: Low-energy extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) is a relatively new therapeutic tool that is widely used for the treatment of epicondylitis and plantar fasciitis and to foster bone and wound healing. Shock waves, sonic pulses with high energy impact, are thought to induce biochemical changes within the targeted tissues through mechanotransduction. The biological effects of ESWT are manifested in improved vascularization, the local release of growth factors, and local anti-inflammatory effects, but the target cells too are influenced. ESWT appears to have differential effects on peripheral nerves and has been proved to promote axonal regeneration after axotomy. This review discusses the effects of ESWT on intact and injured peripheral nerves and suggests a multiple mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology at the Research Centre for Trauma of the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (AUVA), Vienna, Austria; Department for Trauma Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Department for Surgery, State Hospital Hainburg, Hainburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hausner
authors.forename: Antal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nógrádi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000528:radiation effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000528:radiation effects*
keywords: Axonal regeneration; Extracorporeal shock wave treatment; Mechanotransduction; Peripheral nerve injury; Wallerian degeneration